Speaking at the closing of the event, Alhaji Mbye Chow, chairman of the July 22nd Competition committee disclosed: “This call made by the President is a positive means of enhancing development and capacitising the young ones.”
Over 1,000 people contested in all the eight categories.
“More than 600 people contested in the poem and essay categories but it was cut down to one essay finalist which was marked by the jurors and five poets were selected for the finals. We wanted it to be a national participation, so we went to all the GSM companies with the help of Pura for the public to vote for their favorites and 14,892 people voted.”
Chow said the competitions which were contested by a huge number of young people would go to length to reduce the menace of the ‘back way’ which many young people have embarked on in the past several year.
“This is the first time such a competition is happening in this country but I know with the good, determined and focused leader we have, there will be more of such events for this nation to rejoice .We have bound the essays and poems in a booklet to serve our country’s literature before going out to search for other non-Gambian authors who do not belong to our own people. I believe these poems and essays will benefit a lot of people within and outside the country,” he quipped. These are the winners of the different categories:
Song
English: Twin Sisters
Vernacular: Samba Bah
Poem
English: Dr Abdoulie Sallah
Vernacular: Ababacarr Njie
Essay
Sheriff Kumba Jobe, UTG
Crafting of traditional musical instruments
Balafong – Modou Lamin Kuyateh and Mawdo Suso
Halam – Ebriama Jamanka
Tama – Momodou Gajaga
Flute – Bubacarr Jallow
Riti – Lamin Mballow
Kora – Jali Alagi Mbye
Konting – Augustin Jatta
Simbing – Salieu MB
Drums – Cherno MS Sallah
Dance Ensemble
Fula Jubo
Music Ensemble
Bati Askanbi
Traditional dress
Fula – Alagi Sowe and Yamundow Jallow
Mandinka – Fatou Fofana
Serahule – Sise Sawaneh
Wolof – Yaws Creation
Manjago – Binta Mendy
Jola – Kadiajtou Badjie
Serer – Jainaba Joof
Gesseh
APRC green youths
Hunting
Ekun Baba Hunting Society
Kankurang
Kambeng Kafo
Kumpo
Warri Sisters, Kanilai
Night Masquerade
Bureng Cultural Society
Zimba
Gambia Zimba and Cultural group
Drama
Nusrat Senior Secondary School
All participants were given a consolation prize of D10,000 for groups and individuals with D1,000.
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